Adrianne R. Troilo is a Senior Human Resources professional with 20 years of experience in employee relations, recruitment, retention, and workforce development. She strikes a balance with a common-sense approach to leadership and growth through innovative methodologies.  Adrianne has worked for the private sector, non-profit, and trade associations.  She has been an active member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) since 1999 and holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources designation from SHRM.

Adrianne is the Vice President, People and Culture for IWPR. Her key responsibilities include serving as the primary advocate and strategic advisor for establishing a healthy, people-centered, inspiring work culture.

Adrianne is a proud graduate of Bowie State University and holds a Master of Arts degree in Organizational Communications and a Bachelor of Science degree in Broadcast Journalism.  Adrianne lives in Silver Spring, Maryland, with her husband, Nick.

Nina (she/her) is IWPR’s VP of Policy and Strategic Initiatives. In this role, she works to develop and implement IWPR’s policy and advocacy strategy. As a member of the policy team, Nina advances research and public policies that will build the long-term economic security and well-being of women and families.

Nina comes to IWPR from Capitol Hill, where she most recently served as the first-ever Executive Director of the Pro-Choice Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives. In this role, she was instrumental in securing House passage of landmark legislation codifying the right to abortion access, as well as the first funding bills free of abortion coverage restrictions in decades. Nina also spearheaded the House response to the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade.

Nina’s previous experience also includes seven years leading the DC office of the International Women’s Health Coalition (now Fos Feminista), where she advocated with Congress and the Executive Branch in support of sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice – in the United States and globally. She previously served as legislative staff for Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), also working as an advisor on Rep. Schakowsky’s 2010 re-election campaign.

Nina has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Mary Washington, and an MPhil from the University of Cambridge (UK), where her research focused on transitional justice.

William Lutz brings over two decades of strategic nonprofit communications experience to his role as Vice President of Communications and External Affairs for IWPR. He oversees all of IWPR’s communications platforms and publications and, as a member of the executive leadership team, works closely with all departments to develop and implement effective strategic communications plans to elevate IWPR’s ongoing research and policy programs.

Mr. Lutz’s entire career has been dedicated to nonprofit and social justice causes. Before joining IWPR, Mr. Lutz worked at the American Constitution Society on rule of law and racial/gender equality issues. Before that, he served as Senior Director of Communications at Families USA during the successful 2017 national campaign to block repeal of the Affordable Care Act. And prior to that, Mr. Lutz worked at Defenders of Wildlife, where he served in a dual capacity as Senior Director of Communications, overseeing all aspects of the organization’s strategic communications activities, and as Senior Director of the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund, the organizations’ political arm, where he managed all electoral, legislative and ballot initiative campaigns. Mr. Lutz began his career as a Press Secretary and ultimately Communications Director for NARAL Pro-choice America and has worked for several political, public relations, and polling firms, including MSHC Partners and GMMB.

Mr. Lutz is a native New Yorker, a graduate of the George Washington University, and resides in VA with his wife, family and five cats. He enjoys pina coladas and getting caught in the rain.

Afet Dundar, PhD comes to IWPR after 12 years at the National Student Clearinghouse. As Director, Equity in Research and Analytics, Dr Dundar was responsible for establishing and driving forward the principles for an equitable, unbiased, and inclusive approach to data collection and analytics at the Clearinghouse and for championing the organization’s learning agenda for data and analytics to better reflect equity. In the early years of her tenure with the Clearinghouse, as one of the founding senior leaders of the Clearinghouse Research Center, Dr Dundar led the development and production of the national reports on student outcomes, and the education metrics development work for different platforms and services of the Clearinghouse. Dr Dundar has contributed to numerous publications on student access and success outcomes. She has a Ph.D. in education policy studies from Indiana University Bloomington.

Ariane Hegewisch is Senior Research Fellow at IWPR and Scholar in Residence at American University; prior to that she spent two years at IWPR as a scholar-in-residence. She came to IWPR from the Center for WorkLife Law at UC Hastings. She is responsible for IWPR’s research on workplace discrimination and is a specialist in comparative human resource management, with a focus on policies and legislative approaches to facilitate greater work life reconciliation and gender equality, in the US and internationally. Prior to coming to the USA she taught comparative European human resource management at Cranfield School of Management in the UK where she was a founding researcher of the Cranet Survey of International HRM, the largest independent survey of human resource management policies and practices, covering 25 countries worldwide. She started her career  in local economic development, developing strategies for greater gender equality in employment and training in  local government in the UK. She has published many papers and articles and co-edited several books, including ‘Women, work and inequality: The challenge of equal pay in a deregulated labour market”. She is German and has a BSc in Economics from the London School of Economics and an MPhil in Development Studies from the IDS, Sussex.

Read Ariane’s publications

Cristy Mendoza attended The George Washington University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Economics. She is passionate about advocating for the rights of women, immigrants, and Latinx individuals. Cristy is a first-generation college graduate, who mentored other first-gen students to equip them with campus resources and academic strategies to facilitate college acclimation. She has prior internship experience in finance, project management, and tutoring marginalized students of color. Outside of work, Cristy enjoys attending concerts with her friends, exploring new restaurants, and visiting museums.

Emme Rogers is an IWPR Research Assistant. Emme focuses on work with the Center for the Economics of Reproductive Health. Prior to IWPR, Emme attended Georgetown University, where she received a B.S. in Global Health. Her senior thesis covered topics regarding health care policy and delivery in Ghana. Her past work experience includes experiences in clinical settings as a care provider and as a researcher. Outside of work, Emme enjoys being outdoors exploring DC’s many trails on foot and on bike, spending time with friends, and enjoying art.

Dr. Martha Susana Jaimes is IWPR’s Research Economist. She is a feminist labor economist with more than 10 years of experience in applied microeconomics; gender segmentation, data collection, management, and visualization; and policy design. She has a Ph.D. in Public and Urban Policy from The New School and an MS in Economics from Universidad de Los Andes in Bogota, Colombia. Her doctoral research focused on social policy, social insurance, and feminist retirement policies. Her work is centered on feminist labor economics, economics of aging and retirement security, demography, and actuarial studies, with special focus on gender and inequality. Before joining IWPR she was an adjunct lecturer at NYU and Fordham University in New York city, and previously worked as a research associate at the Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis (SCEPA) at The New School as part of the Retirement Equity Lab team. She was a 2018 fellow of the Social Security Administration and the Center for Retirement Research at Boston

Dr. Free is Project Director of Connect for Success at IWPR, an initiative that expands access to reproductive healthcare supports for community college students. In this role, she leads the expansion of high potential programs by growing partnerships and fostering connections between community colleges, community partners and other stakeholders.

Prior to IWPR, Martinique worked at American University serving as Director of an accelerated public health scholars’ program where she exposed undergraduates to topics such as health equity, advocacy, reproductive justice, epidemiology, and social determinants of health. Dr. Free served on the department’s leadership team where she provided ongoing strategic advisement to the management of the department.

Dr. Free has a plethora of professional and research experiences in Public Health within community-led programming as well as on the local and state levels conducting HIV incidence and surveillance. Dr. Free is passionate about reproductive justice and women’s health in BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) populations, health equity, and understanding cultural relevance as it relates to health promotion and disease prevention.

Dr. Free earned her doctorate in Health Education from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. She received her Master of Public Health with a concentration in Communicable Diseases and Behavioral Health Science from the University of Pittsburgh-Graduate School of Public Health. Additionally, she has a B.S. in Laboratory Animal Science from N.C. A&T State University.

Melissa Mahoney is a Senior Research Economist at IWPR. Her work explores well-being, gender, labor market outcomes, and economic pedagogy. Prior to joining IWPR, she served as an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of North Carolina Asheville and worked with the United Nations and the Levy Economics Institute at Bard College. She holds a PhD and a Master’s degree in economics from The New School for Social Research and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Philosophy from Bard College. Her research has been published in Feminist Economics, Review of Income and Wealth, Journal of Economic Education, and by UN Women, the American Association of University Women, among other places. Beyond economics, she enjoys travel, music, yoga, long walks, and engaging conversations.

Miranda Peterson is an IWPR Research Assistant. Miranda focuses on workforce development and the future of work, employment earnings, and job quality. Miranda also works on issues such as income security and economic mobility for women. Prior to IWPR, Miranda attended Georgia Southern University, where she received a B.A. in Political Science and Philosophy and a minor in Arabic. She specializes in women’s rights research and is especially passionate about economic security for women. She served as a Political Science Research Assistant for Georgia Southern University for a year before she graduated in 2022. Outside of work, Miranda enjoys spending time with animals (especially cats), reading, and being with friends.

Noura Hassouna is an international affairs scholar focusing on Global Gender Policy. Noura earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a minor in Legal Studies from the Lebanese American University. She went on to earn her life coach certificate through The National Federation of NeuroLinguistic Programming and the Behavioral Coaching Institute. Finally, she earned a Master of Arts in International Affairs with a concentration on Global Gender Policy and the Middle East from George Washington University, where she conducted a yearlong research paper on Women-Led Activism in the MENA Region: An Activist’s Pathway for Addressing Domestic Violence. She has previously held positions at George Washington University, the Center for Civilians in Conflict, and the United Nations. She has also conducted research for the Egyptian Embassy’s Office of Commerce. In her spare time, Noura is an avid reader and a photographer who enjoys hiking and rafting.

Victoria Gianopoulos (she/her/hers) is the Program Coordinator at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. Within her role, she provides program support, coordination, and assistance across Research, Policy, Communications, and Advancement. She works closely with the Chief Strategy Officer and contributes to the implementation of IWPR’s strategic plan. Prior to IWPR, Victoria co-founded the Committee on Racial Equity Student Advisory Group, which successfully lobbied for accessible education on racial literacy at Virginia Commonwealth University. She earned her B.S. in Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she helped conduct lab experiments as a research assistant with the Social Psychology and Neurology Lab. Her senior thesis addressed gender differences within psychopathology, emphasizing the importance of equitable education and access to mental healthcare of all genders. In her spare time, Victoria enjoys hiking, music, and exploring museums.

Emily Maistrellis joins IWPR as the Director of the Status of Women in the States, and brings nearly fifteen years of experience at the intersection of public health and human rights, focusing on advancing sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice (SRHRJ) through the integration of research, policy, and practice.

Before joining IWPR, Emily led a dynamic portfolio of SRHRJ research and advocacy projects at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health’s Global Health Justice and Governance Program for five years. Her expertise on the impacts of the U.S. ‘Global Gag Rule’ has been widely recognized, with her research being cited by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, in written testimony submitted to Congress, and in Amicus briefs filed with the Supreme Court. Her work has also been featured by major media outlets such as CNN, Global Press Journal, the Fuller Project, the Washington Post, and WBUR.

Emily has held previous positions at the Harvard FXB Center for Health and Human Rights, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Jhpiego. She holds a Master of Science in Public Health from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Bates College. Additionally, she is a certified birth doula and has training as a full-spectrum doula.

Hannah Gartner is a Research Associate and in her role, she will work on the Status of Women initiative and will conduct research and analysis on women’s health, economic, social, and political wellbeing. Hannah earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the Vienna University of Economics and Business and her Master of Science in Social Policy from the University of Pennsylvania. Hannah’s research on women’s underrepresentation in economics education was published in the Review of Political Economy and the Austrian newspaper Die Presse. She has completed trainings on menstrual health equity by Columbia University and on international frameworks for gender equality by UN Women. Prior to IWPR, Hannah completed her Social Science Fellowship at CHILD USA and her Economic Mobility Fellowship in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In her spare time, Hannah enjoys music, books, yoga, and making pottery.

Shannon Emmett is a Senior Policy Analyst at IWPR. In this role, she strategizes state level public policy to advance women and their families. She brings several years of experience at the Massachusetts State House where she first served as a Legislative Aide in the State Senate and most recently as a Research Director driving environmental policy. She traveled across the Commonwealth to engage with stakeholder coalitions and constituents on a breadth of environmental issues, and served as an advisor to multiple committee Chairs through policy negotiations. In response to a statewide increase in food insecurity, Shannon conducted an assessment of Massachusetts’ Food Security Infrastructure Grant program to promote equitable access to nutritious and culturally competent food.

As a former Commissioner on the Essex County Commission on the Status of Women, Shannon partnered with local nonprofits to raise awareness and provide resources to her hometown community during the COVID-19 pandemic in response to rising incidences of domestic violence.

Shannon earned a Master of Public Policy degree at Northeastern University, where her research focused on education reform, labor standards in the gig economy, as well as maternal mortality and intimate partner violence. She holds a dual Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Political Science and History from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she was a fellow and a member of the UMass Women into Leadership Board of Directors, supporting a pipeline for young women from public education into public service.

Salma Elakbawy is a policy analyst at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. Within her role she is responsible for creating policy advocacy materials for federal and state policymakers, coalition partners, the media and the public while analyzing policy implications of relevant legislation, regulations, and executive actions. She graduated with a B.A in political science with a minor in women’s and gender studies and an M.A. in political science and global policy studies with a concentration in women’s rights from Rutgers University. She is also a proud Douglass Woman. Salma is a recipient of the Emily Hickman Award for Global Understanding, the RAAA award for continuing graduate studies, and the Douglass Alumnae Fellowship Award. As a political scientist her expertise lies in intersectional feminist theory and analyzing policy through a gendered lens. Salma brings over 6 years of research experience to IWPR. She has worked for organizations such as the Institute for Research on Women, the Feminist Majority Foundation, and the Center for American Women and Politics at the Eagleton Institute of Politics. Salma has had her work published in Feminist Campus and Ms. Magazine.

Beth Ramirez is a nonprofit professional with 8+ years’ experience developing robust fundraising campaigns for nonprofit organizations that focus on progressive issues such as reproductive rights, immigration reform, and sexual assault awareness. Her professional experience includes grant management, donor management, event planning, community organizing, and direct appeal communication.

Prior to joining IWPR, Beth worked for Planned Parenthood of South, East and North Florida where she developed a grants program that ensured Planned Parenthood patients in Florida and surrounding states continued to received access to essential reproductive health care and sexual health education.

Beth received her Masters degree in Public Administration from Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia and where she also served as the Chair of the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, which focused on building collaboration between graduating nonprofit professionals and local nonprofits.

Beth is a South Florida native (West Palm Beach, Fl) and  first generation American of Colombian and Dominican descent. Outside of work she enjoys browsing the NYT cooking page for new recipes, playing outside with her four year old son Avery, and crafting.

Fiona Klotz (she/her/hers) is the Advancement Associate at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. In this role, she works cross-departmentally to ensure collaboration between the Advancement Team and Research, Policy, Communications and the Office of the President on all donor-related projects and programs.

Prior to IWPR, Fiona worked at George Mason University, where she co-founded, developed, and co-coordinated the Bonner Leadership Program. She also worked as a Student Mentor and Teaching Assistant for the two cohorts of students she recruited, mentored, taught, and worked alongside for 3 years. This program is ever expanding and will continue to uphold the legacy she and her colleagues have left behind.

Fiona received her BA in Social Justice and Human Rights from George Mason University in 2022 and was given multiple awards for her leadership, service, and innovation. She is passionate about Reproductive and Restorative Justice practices for policy advocacy, research, and educational transformation.

Ksenia Dombo (she/her/hers) is the Associate Director of Advancement Programs & Philanthropic Impact at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. In this role, she works to deepen donor relationships, engage and communicate with IWPR’s top supporters, and create meaningful fundraising campaigns and events.

Prior to IWPR, Ksenia worked at the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), where she created and led the charge on implementing the organization’s planned giving program. She also spearheaded RAINN’s first-ever capital campaign, Thrive Together, which raised more than $10 million over two years.

Ksenia received her MSW from the Catholic University of America in 2018, and received her BSW from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2017. She was given multiple awards from her alma maters for her service, leadership, and independent study research

Chasity Cook (she/her) is IWPR’s People and Culture Generalist in Operations.

Chasity is a seasoned HR professional with a passion for building positive and inclusive workplace environments. She holds an MBA and a Coaching Certificate from the Association of Talent Development, combining academic knowledge with hands-on experience to make a real impact. Her expertise spans employee relations, DEI initiatives, and strategic planning—skills that will help us continue fostering a supportive and empowering workspace for all

Diane Danielek is IWPR’s Office Manager. She has extensive administrative management experience with a diverse range of business and organizational environments, including  hospitality groups, large trade organizations, non-profits, and tech start-ups. Prior to joining IWPR, Diane spent more than a decade with the Eatwell Restaurant Group in DC, and prior to that she was with the educational nonprofit Curriki, and the internet development firm Bixler Incorporated. She is a graduate of Ohio University and when she is not “office managing” she enjoys cooking, entertaining, reading and long walks to and fro.

Ryan Koch joined IWPR in 2007 as the Development Director. He earned his MS in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin and as an undergraduate at Virginia Tech he majored in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. His area of study and interest has been and remains focused on issues of race, class and gender. Ryan comes to the IWPR after several years successfully writing grant proposals for the City of Memphis Division of Housing and Community Development and the Memphis Housing Authority. He spent most of his time working with the Housing Authority’s Humans Services programs and the City’s homeless Continuum of Care. Ryan is responsible for ensuring the Development Department runs smoothly and is excited about helping IWPR identify new funding opportunities and expanding its support.

Chandler Rollins is IWPR’s Media Relations Director. Chandler (she/her) leads IWPR’s strategic communications efforts to elevate our research and amplify its impact.

Chandler comes to IWPR with over a decade of experience as a communications strategist in the consumer-packaged goods industry, most recently serving as Director of Communications and Influencer Marketing for two nationally recognized brands at The Estée Lauder Companies. There, she led impactful go-to-market strategies, integrating digital media, content, events, and influencer partnerships to enhance engagement and build brand loyalty. Her work was celebrated for campaigns that challenged traditional advertising norms, promoting body positivity, diversity, and inclusivity in the beauty industry.

In addition to her corporate expertise, Chandler has a strong foundation in journalism, having held masthead roles at Women’s World, First for Women, Life & Style Weekly, and JET. She brings a unique, media-savvy perspective to her role here, blending analytical insight with a storyteller’s touch. Chandler holds a B.A. in Journalism from Columbia College Chicago and hails proudly from St. Louis, Missouri.

Susan Patterson (she/her) is the Senior Manager, Publications, and a communications specialist with a strong track record of crafting clear, concise, and impactful content that elevates the mission of nonprofits working to improve the lives of women and girls.

Before joining IWPR, Susan worked for PAI, a global sexual and reproductive health and rights advocacy nonprofit. There, she led the creation of donor communications and helped shape programmatic content and organizational collateral, ensuring each piece was accurate, on brand, and amplified the organization’s work and the urgency of its mission. Other prior experience includes three international fellowships with NGOs in Ghana, Panamá, and Thailand.

Susan holds a B.A. in Rhetoric and Communications from the University of Virginia. She lives in Washington, D.C., where she can usually be found outside running, camping, or hiking or inside curled up on the couch with her dog and cat.

Tessa Dee is the Senior Manager of Digital Strategy for IWPR. Prior to joining IWPR, Tessa served as communication manager and development director for numerous organizations, including the Democracy Alliance, the American Heart Association, and the LifeScape Foundation. Inspired by her time as Miss South Dakota 2013 and the creation of the children’s literacy organization Project Bookworm, Tessa received her Master of Arts in Communications with the intention of helping non-profit organizations better their mission-driven storytelling and enhancing their public presence. In addition to her professional pursuits, Tessa also won the title of Miss South Dakota USA 2017, becoming just the second woman from South Dakota to hold both Miss America and Miss USA titles for the state. Tessa now lives in Washington, DC with her husband, Sam, and their three rescue pets, Fitz, Franklin, and Archie.